The Dish & The Spoon

Sincere and Unhindered
Alison Bagnall brings her 2nd feature length film, The Dish & The Spoon, with shameless intimacy.

After discovering her husband has cheated on her, Rose (Greta Gerwig) goes on a beer-drinking rampage, pulling the young, mysterious vagabond (Olly Alexander) in on her plan for revenge against the bitch who put her in this position.

The two share an undeniable - often cute and occasionally awkward - on screen chemistry.

Their unique and intimate relationship develops in an interesting balance of sexual tension, bare emotions and twisted manipulation.

Bagnall sincerely seems to be an actor's director, where playfulness and experimentation is balanced with an emotional depth.

The film is sincere and reckless, letting the characters lead the narrative. Rose wants to scream, Rose will scream. Rose wants to cuddle, Rose will cuddle. Rose wants to steal, Rose will steal.

The characters really seem free to act how they want and...

A little treasure
I took the opportunity to watch this during the 2011 SF International Film Festival. This is a well acted character study about a seriously depressed 20 something who develops a bond with a teenager.
The chemistry between Gerwig and Alexander is credible and the story never strains to push them into a romantic tryst. I was also impressed by the Delaware setting. Too many movies want to stick with NYC/LA or other big cities, while ignoring the rest of the country.
I'm looking forward to revisting this one on DVD

The dish and the spoon
I loved this film. I found it so poetic, involved in the pairing of two unlikely people who in ordinary circumstances would never have been involved in each other. They are both in pain. She as the result of an adulterous husband. He, having traveled all the way from England to meet a girl he met in London who dumped him. The acting of both Greta Gerwig and Olly Alexander are gripping...so believable. (disclosure: I am the screenwriter/directors Mother)

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